AN INSIGHT

INTO
FEMINISM

PRESENTED BY:
DEEPSHIKHA
MALAKAR
 FEMINISM – AN INTRODUCTION
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Wikipedia defines Feminism as – ‘A range of

political movements, ideologies, and social
movements that share a common goal: to define,
establish, and achieve political, economic, personal,
and social equality of sexes.’ But even in the post
modern world, the above definition is easier said
than done. While some mistake feminism for
liberation of women at the expense of men, while
there are still remote places in the world where the
concept and implementation of Feminism has not
reached yet.

Feminism is not gender biased or caste biased, it

is simply believing in the equality amongst every
gender irrespective of caste, class, race, religion or
sexual orientation.
 FEMINISM – SALIENT FEATURES
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

 Feminism is a social conflict theory that evaluates gender in its

relation to power.

 It defines that men and women should be equal politically,

economically and socially.

 Feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation and

oppression.

 Feminism is historically a multicultural cause with men and women

from all aspects of the society.

 Feminism is primarily advocating the cause of equality and equity in

general.

 Feminism doesn't just liberate women; it also liberates men by

breaking down the standards which society has put in place for both
women and men. 
 FEMINISM – HISTORY
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

The Three Waves of Feminism:

The history of Feminism is often described in 3 temporal waves.
The First Wave -
 The first wave occurred during the nineteenth and early twentieth
centuries.
 It began in the UK and US as a struggle for equality and property rights
for women.
 First wave feminist fought against chattel marriages and for political and
economic equality.
Their major achievements were:
 The opening of higher education for women.
 Reform the secondary school system OF Girls.
 Married women property rights recognized in the married women
property act of 1870.
 Improvement in divorced and separated women’s child custody rights.
 FEMINISM – HISTORY
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

The Second Wave:

 The second wave occurred during the 1960’s and 1990’s.
 It unfolded in the context of the antiwar and civil rights movements and the
growing self-consciousness of a variety of marginalized groups around the
world.
 The second wave differed from the first wave as it dedicated to
 Raising consciousness about Sexism and Patriarchy.
 Legalizing abortion and birth control.
 Attaining equal rights in political and economic realms and
 Gaining sexual liberation.

The Third Wave:

 The third wave is considered as the time frame from 1990’s to present day.
 Third wave feminist concerns expressed concerns with retaining second wave
feminist agendas and tried to create new projects focusing on issues of race and
sexuality fighting the new backlash against feminism.
 Third wave breaks constraining boundaries of gender, including what it deems
essentialists boundaries set by the earlier waves.
 FEMINISM – TYPES
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Liberal Feminism:
 Liberals hold that freedom is a fundamental value and that the just state ensures freedom
for citizens.

 Liberal feminism is a form of feminism that argues equality for women can be achieved
through legal means and social reform.

 Liberal feminism is a traditional perspective that was established as a part of the first
wave feminism. It is often the root of comparison when deconstructing contemporary
conceptualizations of Feminism.

 It argues that society has a false belief that women are by nature less intellectually and
physically capable than men.

 Liberal feminists argue that women share the same rational human nature men do and so
should be given the same educational opportunities and civil rights as men are given.
 FEMINISM – TYPES
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Socialist Feminism:

• Rejects radical Feminism’s main claim that patriarchy is the only or primary source
of oppression of women.

• Socialist Feminism assert that women are unable to be free due to their financial
dependence on males in society.

• Socialist Feminist purports that women can only achieve true freedom when
working to end both economic and cultural oppression.

Marxist Feminism:

• Argue that the path to gender equality is led by the destruction of our capitalist
society.

• Marxist/Socialist Fredrich Engels explained in the “Origins of the Family, Private

Property and the State” that woman’s oppression began with the advent of private
property in human society.
 FEMINISM – TYPES
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

.
Ecofeminism:

• A social and political movement which unites environmentalism and

feminism.

• Ecofeminism believe that these connections are illustrated through

traditionally “female” values such as reciprocity, nurturing and
cooperation which are present both among women and in nature.

• Ecofeminist argue that there is a correlation between the destruction of

the planet and the exploitation of women worldwide by the patriarchy.

• This particular area of feminism intersects with issues of socioeconomic

privilege, speciesism and racism.
 FEMINISM – TYPES
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Radical Feminism:
 Radical feminism is the second most notable form of Feminism.

 Radical Feminism is a philosophy emphasizing the patriarchal roots of inequality

between men and women or more specifically, social dominance of women by men.

 Radical feminism is a movement that believes sexism is so deeply rooted in society that
the only cure is to eliminate the concept of gender completely.
 Radical Feminism increasingly recognises that females from different oppressed groups
experience a combination of oppressions. Class, race and disability have systematic
structural impacts on different women's lives in different toxic combinations.
 FEMINISM – THE MYTHS RELATED TO IT
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Although the definition of Feminism is pretty clear – Equality amongst all Genders; yet there
are a lot of myths and misconceptions related to Feminism which deviate it from its actual
purpose. The following are a few :
 Feminism is not misandry, which is hatred toward men or women wanting power
over men in society. This is also termed as Pseudo-Feminism. However, there are a
lot of pseudo-feminists in today’s world which tend to create a rift between the
actual purpose and goal of feminism.
 Feminism is not a women’s movement. It is a human movement and ideology
which believes in that all classes, sections, castes of the society receive equal rights
irrespective of theit gender.
 The goal of feminism is not about proving that women are better than men. Instead
it strives to create a society where men aren’t always expected to be the
moneymaker for a family and women are seen as an individual instead of a
babymaker.
 Feminism does not just fight for women’s rights. It fights for equal rights of all
genders.
 FEMINISM – WHY WE STILL NEED
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM IT

 In the post modern world, it is heartwarming that many women feel that they get the
same opportunities as men and this has been possible because of past feminist
movements. However, we still need feminism until each and every woman feel that way.

 Women’s health problems and pregnancy issues are still one of the major neglected
aspects in most of the third world countries. It is only through public awareness and
feminist movements that these issues can be solved.

 Feminism is still to some extent a gender biased movement as not many men participate
due to the misconception that feminism is a feminine movement. Therefore, there is an
utmost need for awareness on feminism.

 We still need feminism because women are taught how to prevent rape, instead of
teaching people to not view women as objects. This is one of the most stigmatic issues in
the world irrespective of the country’s development. Feminism is the only effective
solution to this problem.
 CONCLUSION
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Gender inequality and discrimination exist in all societies. Feminist theory giving a voice to
women remains as the greatest contribution. The present day feminism in its diverse and
various forms such as liberal, radical, socialist, Marxist and ecofeminism continues its
struggle for a better status for women.

In conclusion, I would like to say –

Women should be treated equally as Men, not because women are

better but because we are all HUMAN.
AN INSIGHT INTO FEMINISM

Thank You.